Universal joint



April 8, 1953 G. E. DUNN 2,636,362

UNIVERSAL JOINT Filed Aug. 27, 1949 ELIE-=5 INVENTOR. G some E. DUNNPatented Apr. 28 1953 UNIVERSAL JOINT George E. Dunn, Dearborn, Mich.,assignor to Universal Products Company, Inc., Dearborn, Mich., acorporation of Delaware Application August 27, 1949, Serial No. 112,797

Claims.

This invention relates to universal joint assem- 4 blies andparticularly to a joint assembly adapted for use in the drive system ofa motor vehicle,

This invention has particular reference toa new and improvedconstruction for universal joint assemblies which reduces the cost ofthe joint asv semblies without any sacrifice in the performance thereof,and in addition facilitates the assembly and disassembly of the joint.

The principal object of the invention, therefore, is to provide a noveluniversal joint assembly which costs less to build and is easier andless expensive to assemble than comparable joint assemblies of the typenow in use.

Other and further objects of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and claims and may be understood by reference tothe accompanying drawings, of which there is one sheet, which by way ofillustration show preferred embodiments of the invention and what I nowtion;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view with parts shown in elevation and takengenerally along the line 2--2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of thearrows;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional View through one of the bearing cups andtaken along the line 3-3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view taken along the line 44 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 5 is a side elevational view of the bearing retainer;

Fig. 6 is a side elevational view of the bearing f up;

Fig. '7 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view I taken along the line1-1 of Fig. 4; and

Fig. 8 is a plan view of a modified form of retainer.

v The joint assembly embodying the invention as illustrated is of thecross trunnion type and includes in general the rotary yoke or body I!)having spaced parallel and opposed arms I2, each provided with acylindrical aperture l4. The yoke iii may be otherwise formed so as tobe secured to a shaft or other rotary part. A rotaryyoke 'or member'ifiis provided with opposed parallel ture 20.

arms I8, each provided with a cylindrical aper- The arms H! are eachdisposed ninety degrees angularly relative to each of the arms 12.

A cross member 22 is provided with two radially extending trunnions 24axially aligned with each other and with two radially extendingtrunnions 26 axially aligned with each other. The trunnions 24 projectinto the apertures 20, while the trunnions 28 project into the apertures84. The trunnions 24 and 26 are each angularly disposed at right anglesrelative to each other, and such trunnions lie in the same plane.

The apertures M in the arms [2 are axially aligned and of the samediameter. The apertures 20 in the arms l8 are also axially aligned witheach other and of the same diameter. Each of the arms 12 has a side orface 28 thereof provided with a slot 30 intersecting the aperture 14therein and forming a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders 32 and 34.The shoulders 32 and 34 face each other and are disposed outwardly ofthe aperture l4. The shoulder 32 forms the bottom wall of a slot orgroove 35 which is disposed normal to the slot 30, the bottom wall 36 ofthe slot 30 forming one side of the slot 35 and an abutment, theshoulder'32 forming the bottom wall of such slot, and a shoulder orabutment 38 forming the other wall of such slot. The bottom wall 36 ofthe slot 30 is a finished surface and is disposed normal to the axis ofthe aperture it, and the shoulder 38 faces such bottom wall as.

A bearing cup 40 is positioned in each of the apertures I4 and has aslip fit therein, each hearing cup 40 being positioned around one of thetrunnions 26 with the end surface 42 of the trunnjons seated against thebottom inside surfaces 44 of the cups 40 so that the bearing cups haveend thrust bearing engagement with the trunnions 26 to center the crossmember 22 with rev spect to the yoke In.

The bearing cups 4!! house a series of needle rollers 46 whichv arearranged between the trunnion 26 and the inner cylindrical finishedsurface of the cups 40. One of the ends of each of the v needle rollers46 projects into an annular groove .61 which surrounds the bottomfinished surface H 44 of the cup 40. An annular retainer 43 for therollers 46 is fitted and secured on the rim of the 40 even when the cup40 is disassembled from the trunnion 26.

. 38 overlaps the leg 12 of the retainer. I82 of the retainer '19engages the shoulders 54 An annular member 52, channel shaped in crosssection, is fitted and secured around the base of the trunnion andagainst an annular shoulder 55 thereof, the member 52 forming a supportfor a compressible sealing member 56. The part of the bearing retainer48 overlying the rim of the cup 40 seats against the annular sealingmember 56 so as to form a running seal between the base of. the trunnionand the rim of the bearing cup, the seal serving to retain lubricantwithin the cup and to exclude dirt therefrom. It should be noted thatthe outer rim 58 of the member 52 is arranged in surrounding and spacedrelation with the rim of the cup 40. The sealing member 53 may be ofcork, feltor other suitable material and impregnated with lubricant, andwhen the joint is assembled as shown in Figs. 1, 2, 3 and 4, the sealingmember 55 is compressedbetween the bottom of the member 52 and theannular portion of the bearingretainer 48 which makes contact with thesealing member 56.

Each of the bearing cups 49 on the outer peripheral surface thereof isprovided with a pair of'chordal flats 60 which form the bottom surfaceof grooves 62 having side shoulders 64 and the cup 40, and a looped endit which projects beyond the slot 36 and the arm 12. The overallwidth'of the retainer 16 as shown in Fig. 4 is such so that the retainer'18 has a slip fit between the shoulders 32 and 34. The leg 74 of there- I tainer engages one of the flats and the shoulcler 34, while theleg 12 engages the other flat 6 and the shoulder 32, thereby securingthe cup ll! against rotation in the aperture 14 in the arm E2.

The end 7'! of the leg 14 is deflected over the edge of the slot 38after the retainer '10 is positioned therein so as to prevent the retaner from being displacedfrom the slot at. The re-,

tainer 10 preferably is formed ofisoft steel. The face IE4 of theretainer Ill is seated against the bottom surface 36 of the slot,and-the shoulder The face of the grooves 82 inv the bearing cup 40,thereby preventing outward movement of the bearing cups axially of theopenings M. It will also be "observed that the retainers Ill prevent thebearing cups 423 from moving axially inwardly of the openings M sincethe engagement of the retainers 70 with the shoulders 38 of the slot 35and with the shoulders 85 of the grooves 62 will prevent such movement.The retainers l0 thussecure each of the bearing'cups 40 in the opening"l4 against rotation and against axial movement in both directions. Theretainers!!! also positionthe cups' ili so as to center the cross member22 with respect-to the yoke 10.

The outer ends of the bearing cups 40 may be provided with flats l8aligned with the flats '60 so that the flats 60 maybe properly disposedrelative to the shoulders 32 and 34 in order to per- -Init the legs 72and 14 of the retainers M to penetrate between the flats 6i! and theshoulders 32 and 34.

4 the legs '12 and M into the space between the flats to and theshoulders 32 and 34 if the flats 60 are not properly positioned relativeto the shoulders 32 and 34. The ends of the legs 72 and 74 are alsotapered or wedge-shaped, as indicated at 82, so as to facilitate thepenetration of the ends of such legs into the spaces between thefiatsqfiil and the shoulders 321'ancl 3 i and if the flatsiifi are notproperly-aligned with the shoulders and 3 the penetrating movement ofthe legs '12 and M will turn the bearing cups 40 to properly positionthe flats 69 relative to the shoulders 32 and 34.

- the shoulder 32 than to the shoulder 30, or vice versa, due to thefact that the manufacturing tolerances will be taken up on one sidewhich automatically produces a tight flt of .one leg of the retainer iiibetween the flat '60 on" the bearins cup ll and the shoulder on the yokearm on the same side of the bearing cup. Because of this, variations inthe iitof the retaining means due to tolerances within the manufacturinglimits are reduced to a minimum and hence the possibilities of loosefitting-and sloppy fastening-of the bearing cups are practicallyeliminated. Thus the bearing cups i!) are positively secured against anyrotation about their axis in the apertures 'in the yoke arms. This isimportant. as under stresses, vibrations and impacts encountered in theuse of the joint thereis a tendency of the cups 68 to turn about theiraxis, which if not restrained will cause premature deterioration andfailure of the joint.

After the retainer 10 is positioned in the slot 30 and with its loopedend 18 seated against the bearing cup 58, the end of the leg M whichpro-,iects beyond-the slot 39 of the arm I2 is bent so as to lock theretainer iii in the slot 30. Since the retainer '10 is formed of a softmetal, such as soft steel, the end 1! of the leg 14 mayreadily be bentand will remain in a bent position until it is straightened by a tool inorder to permit the removal of the retainer .70.

The final. assembly of universal joints installed as originalequipmenton motor vehicles, such-as automobiles, usually takes place onthe assembly line at the automobile plant. At this time the yoke or bodyit! is secured to one part of the driving system and the yoke or rotarymember it is secured to another part whichis tobe arranged in drivingrelation by means of the universal joint with the part to which the yokel0 is secured. The cross member 22 usually is furnished to the carmanufacturer assembled to the yoke 45. The trunnions 24 of the cross 22project into the apertures 2G in the arms -l8 and each trunnion isjournaled in a bearing cup I which is quite similar in construction tothe bearingcup ill and is provided with the needle rollers I43; and theand faces 148 of the trunnions 24 are seated against the bottoms I'of'the cups 140 so that the bearing cups M0 have "end thrust bearingengagement with the trunnions 24 to-center' the member 22 with respecttothe axis of rotation of the yoke 16.

While the bearing cups [40 may be of the same 1 construction as thebearing cups 411 and'secured in'the openings 2:] in the same'manner asthat which the bearing'cups'tu are secured; the

bearing cups I40 are shown eachpress *fitt'edinto its respectiveaperture 20. A U-shaped snap rin I54 positioned in an annular groove I56in the outer peripheral surface of the cup I40 is seated against theinner edge of the apertures 20 for eating the bearing cups I40 in theapertures 20 and with respect to the arms I8. The press fit. of thebearing cups I40 in the apertures 20 secures the bearing cups I40against displacement, and each bearing cup I40 and its associatedtrunnion are provided with a running seal like that previouslydescribed.

In assembling the cross 22 to the yoke I0 the trunnions 26 are arrangedin the apertures I4. One of the bearing cups 40 is then positioned inone of the apertures I4 and on the trunnion 26 which projects into suchaperture, the needle rollers 46 previously having been assembled in thebearing cup 40 and secured therein by the bearing retainer 48, and theseal supporting ring 52 and the seal 56 having previously been assembledto the cross 22. The bearing cup 40 is then positioned so that the flats60 thereof are arranged opposite and substantially parallel with theshoulders 32 and 34, and one of the retainers I0 is slid into the slot30 so that the legs I2 and M will straddle the bearing cup and until thelooped end I6 of the retainer I0 is seated against the bearing cup 40and with the legs I2 and I4 positioned between the flats 60 and theshoulders 32 and 34, as shown in Fig. 4.. The end 17 of the leg 14 isthen deflected over the edge of the arm I2. Inasmuch as the bearing cup40 has a slip fit in the aperture I4, it could slip through were it notfor the engagement between leg I2 of the retainer and shoulder 38. Evenif the bearing cup 40 did not slip completely through aperture I4, if itslipped far enough so thatthe retainer I0 passed the shoulders 30 and32, the bearing cup 40 might be rotated so that the retainer would notfall back into place when the other side of the joint is assembled.Thus, the shoulder 38 cooperates with the retainer 70 during finalassembly of the joint to hold the bearing cup temporarily in placethereby insuring proper positioning of the parts during assembly andefiicient assembly of the joint. Such bearing cup is thus positioned andsecured to the yoke I0.

The joint may then be rotated about its axis 180 so as to bring theother arm I2 into position for assembly of the other bearing cup 40thereto.

Another bearing cup 40 is assembled in the aperture I4 and over theother trunnion 26 and with the flats 60 of such bearing cup positionedapproximately parallel to the shoulders 32 and 34. The size of the seals56 as made is such that such seals 56 are compressed to a limited extentwhen the joint is assembled. In assembling the first of the bearing cups40 in its aperture I2 and on its trunnion 26 no compression of the seal56 takes place because the cross 22 is not at such time secured againstmovement axially of the trunnions 26. However, when the second hearingcup 40 is assembled on its trunnion 26, both seals 56 must be compressedin order to properly position the bearing cup 40 in its aperture I4. Theends of the legs I2 and I4 are made wedgeshaped, as indicated at I60, sothat the ends of the legs I2 and I4 will penetrate the grooves 62 in thebearing cup 40.

Referring to Fig. 5, it will be observed that the face I62 is providedwith the sloping surface which forms the, wedge-shaped end I60 and theretainer I0 should be assembled in the slot 30 with the face I62presented toward the,

cross 22, while the opposite face I64should be presented to and seatedon the bottom surface 36 of the slot 30. The wedge-shaped ends I60 ofthe legs I2 and I4 will in the assembly of the second bearing cup 40drawn the bearing cup 40 endwise toward the cross member 22 and therebyefiect proper compression of the seals 56 as the retaining member I0 isdriven to its seated position in the slot 30. Thereafter the end 11 ofthe leg I4 is bent over the edge of the arm I2, as shown in Fig. 4, tolock the retainer I0 in the slot 30 and thereby locking the secondbearing cup 40 in its operative position. This completes the assembly ofthe joint.

The looped end I6 of the retainer II projecting beyond the arm I2 makesit possible to engage the retainer II with a tool to pull the same outof its slot 30 when it is desired to disassemble the joint.

This construction not only reduces the cost of manufacture of the jointwithout any sacrifice in the performance thereof, but also expedites thefinal assembly of the joint and reduces the cost of such final assembly.This construction also makes it possible to reduce to a limited extentthe weight of the joint assembly.

In the modified form of retainer illustrated in Fig. 8 the legs "2 andH4 thereof may each be tapered in width so that when assembled in thejoint in the manner illustrated inFig. 4, such legs. H2 and H4 willcompletely fill and be wedged in the space between the flats 60 and theshoulders 32 and 34, and thereby positively lock the bearing cup 40against rotation. The legs I32 and H4 at their ends I16 should be ofsuch size so as to penetrate the spaces between the flats 60 and theshoulders 32 and 34, and such legs may be tapered inwardly along thesides I18 thereof so that the width of the legs I12 and "4 when theretainer is assembled as shown in Fig. 4 is somewhat greater than themaximum distance between each fiat 60 and its opposed shoulder 32 or 34.

While the retainer I0 illustrated in the previous modification securesthe bearing cup 40 against rotation, it is not contemplated that thelegs I2 and 14 of such retainer will have a wedged fit between the flats60 and the shoulders 32 and 34, but rather that the retainer I0 willhave a slip fit between the flats 60 and the shoulders 32 and 34. Thismight in some instances, due to an accumulation of manufacturingtolerances, permit an extremely minute amount of turning of the cup 40in its aperture I4. This possibility could be entirely prevented byemploying the retainer illustrated in Fig. 8 which would have a wedgedfit with respect to the shoulders 32 and 34 and the flats 60 of the cup40.

The retainer shown in Fig. 8, like that shown in the previousmodification, preferably is formed of soft steel or similar non-hardenedmetal. If because of some defect or impairment in the joint in use, thebearing cup 40 is turned in its aperture I4 sufl'icient to the end thatthe transverse edges [I9 at the ends of the flats 60 gouge out the metalof the legs I2 and I4 of the retainer to an extent to which thecooperation between the flats 60 and the legs I2 and I4 is inoperativeto prevent the turning of the bearing cup 40, the sides of the annulargroove will by cooperation with the legs I2 and I4 prevent the bearingcup 40 from moving axially with respect-to the aperture I4, even thoughat such time the bearing cup may befreeto turninitsaperture. iv

While-I havesillustrated and described pre- -.ferred embodiments of-myinvention, it is understood that theseare, capable of modification, andI therefore do not wish to be limited to the precise details set fourth,but desire to avail myself of such changes and alterations as fallwithin the purview of the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a universal. joint, a rotary yoke having spaced arms,-eachprovided with a cylindrical aperture, said apertures being axiallyaligned and of the same diameter, each of said arms being provided witha slot intersecting the aperture therein and forming a pair ofoppositely disposed shoulders parallel with the axis of said aperturesand facing each other and which shoulders are spaced apart an amount atleast as great as the diameter of said apertures, the bottom of each ofsaid slots being a finished surface and normal tothe axisoi saidapertures, a rotary member having a pair of aligned trunnions, onetrunnion projecting into eachofsaid apertures, a bearing cup around eachtrunnion and each bearing cup being arranged with a slip fit in one ofsaid apertures, said bearing cups having end thrust bearing engagementwith said trunnions to center said member with respect to said yoke,each of said bearing cups, in the outer peripheral surface thereof,being provided with chordal flats arranged opposite to and facing eachof said shoulders and a radially extending shoulder arranged normal tosaid flats and opposite to and facing the bottom surface of one of saidslots, a bearing cup retainer in the form of a U seated against thebottom suriace of each of said slots with the legs of each of saidretainers disposed adjacent to and confined between said shoulders ofsaid slot in which said-retainer is seated, the legs of each of saidretainers being rigid and substantially flat and straddling a bearingcup, one of said legs of each of said retainers having a snug-fit andbeing confined in unyield ing abutting relationship between one of theshoulders formed by said slot in which it is seatedand one of said flatsof one or said hearing cups so as positively to prevent any rotation ofsaid bearing cup in its aperture, said one of said legs of each ofsaid'retainers being sated against and having a snug'fit between thebottom surface of, said slot in whichit is seated and said shoulder ofsaid one of saidbearing cups so as positively to prevent axial movementof said bearing cup in its aperture and to positively center said rotarymember in said yoke, and means integral with each of said arms andvoverhanging one of said slot shoulders and the leg of the retainerabutting thesame and spaced from said last-mentioned retainer leg.

2. In a universal joint, a rotary body having spaced arms, each providedwith a cylindrical aperture, said apertures being axially aligned, eachof said arms being provided with a slot intersecting the aperturetherein and forming a pair of oppositely disposed shoulders parallelwith the axis of said apertures and facing each other and a bottom walldisposed normal to said shoulders, a rotary, member having a pair ofaligned trunnions, one trunnion projecting into each-of said-apertures,a bearing cup around each trunnion andeach bearing cup being positionedwith a slip fitin one .O'LSaid apertures, each of said bearingcups inthe outer peripheral surface thereof bei ng ,providedcwith a pair ofchordal of-ssuch flatsnbeing arranged opposite toand facing one of saidshoulders formed by said slot, a bearing cup retainer disposed betweenand seated against each of said bottom walls and saidshoulderof. each ofsaid bearing cups, with the legs ofeach of said retainers being rigidand substantially flat and confined between the shoulders ofthe slot inwhich each of said retainers is disposed and the flats of a bearing cup,thelegs of each of said retainers straddling a bearing cup and one ofsaid legs of each of said retainers being rigidly confined in unyieldingabutting relation between. one of said flats and one of said shouldersof the slot in which said leg is disposed so as positively to preventany rotation of the bearing cup relative to its associated arm, anannular compressible running seal operatively positioned and compressedbetween each of said bearing cups and its associated trunnionat leastone of-said retainers being operative,- to react on the shoulder of abearing cup and the oppositely disposed one of said bottom walls toforcibly hold the bearing cups on their seats against the ends of saidtrunnions and against the compression of said seals.

3, In a universal joint, a rotary yoke having spaced arms, each providedwith a cylindrical aperture, said apertures being axially aligned, eachof said arms being provided with a slot intersecting and normal to theaperture therein and forming a pair of oppositely disposed shoul;dersparallel with the axis of said apertures and facing each other and apair of oppositely facing surfaces disposed normal to said shoulders, arotary member having a pair of aligned trunnions, one trunnionprojecting into each of said apertures, a bearing cup around eachtrunnion and arranged with a slip fit in each of said apertures, saidbearing cups having end thrust bearing engagement with said trunnions tocenter said member with respectto said yoke, each of said bearing cupsinthe outer peripheral surface thereof being provided with oppositelydis posed outwardly facing chordal flats, each flat being arrangedopposite toand facing one of said shoulders, and each of said bearingcups being provided with a radially extending shoulder normal to saidflats and arrangedopposite to and facing one of said surfaces, a bearingcup retainer inthe form of a U seated against one of said surfaces ofeach of said arms with the legs of each of said retainers disposed inone of said slots and adjacent to andconfined between said shouldersthereof the legsof each of said retainers being rigid and flat and eachbearing cup being straddled by the legs of a retainer, one of said legsof each of said retainers having a snug fit and being confined inunyielding abutting relation between one of said slot shoulders and oneof said flats so aspositively to prevent any rotation of saidbearingcups in said apertures, and one of said legs of each ofsaid retainersbeing seated against and having a snug fit between one of said surfacesand'one of saidbearing cup shoulders so as positively to prevent outwardaxial movement of said bearing cups in-said apertures and topositivelycenter said rotary member insaid yoke, said otherof said surfaces ofeach arm overhanging and-spaced from at least one of the legs of aretainer to limit the inward axial movement of a bearing cup in itsaperture.

4. A universal joint according to claim 2 wherein each of said retainershas an end thereof bent over an arm-of said body for preventing flatsand a shOuldfir.- ?ii m all. ach 7 displacement of saidretainer from itsslot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS NumberName Date Hesse et a1. Sept. 5, 1916 Braun Nov. 5, 1935 Anderson Apr. 7,1936 Slaght Apr. 19, 1938

